RHEMA From Heaven

There is nothing more misleading like ignorance or “half-truth” in life. This is even worse when it pertains to spiritual things and especially in one’s walk with God. In Mathew 22:29, Jesus said to the critics of his days that “they err not knowing the scriptures”. 

You see, nothing can destroy you easily like ignorance. Anytime you lack knowledge of the truth, you will make wrong judgments and interpretations. Therefore, it is important to search the scriptures as a Christian. You must be a studious person to know the word.

To search means to look somewhere carefully to find something. It also means to go over or look through for the purpose of finding something. Thus, searching must be deliberate and it entails effort on the part of the searcher. 

When searching you don’t just browse through a subject, rather you give attention to details to seek out the truth from several other facts. Acts 17:11 says “These (the Berean Jews) were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so”.

It is important to know that there are several revelations and insights that when you get your life will be easy in this perilous and sin doomed world. But you must make time for the word first. 

When you search God’s word, you will know that truth and the truth will make you a noble person. It will make you fair-minded and cause you to prevail in life. not only that but God’s wisdom will impact your spirit and cause you to shine. Ecclesiastes 8:1 from the Amplified Bible reads “Who is like the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a matter? A man’s wisdom illumines his face, And causes his stern face to beam” 

Make time for the word. Search it daily. Search what it says about any subject or matter that you may be confronted with. You will get the keys – wisdom keys, knowledge keys, and spiritual keys to navigate through life.

Read: 2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Prayer: Dear Lord, open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things from your word. I ask for grace to engage or practice the truth I get from your word. Amen!

One truth that our opening scriptures reveals is that sin brings sickness. Until the knowledge of this truth gets concentrated in the Christendom, people will still be oppressed by this incipient death. Sin breaks one’s fellowship with God. Sin hardens people and leads to backsliding. It will also take you out of the will and the covering of God. This is how the devil gets the opportunity to attack people’s health.

In our opening text in John 5, the bible tells how after healing someone of a protracted sickness, Jesus cautioned the healed person not to sin again to avoid any further sickness. John 5:14 “Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “SEE, YOU ARE WELL AGAIN. STOP SINNING OR SOMETHING WORSE MAY HAPPEN TO YOU.”

You see, having a good health can be possible when Christians don’t make a practice of sinning. Today, MOST PEOPLE ARE SICK BECAUSE THEY ARE SINNING. Some people have brought sicknesses upon themselves by continually engaging in lying, stealing, fornication, infidelity, pride, rebellion, masturbation, ungratefulness, disobedience, idolatry, unforgiveness, envy, selfishness, dishonesty, etc.

Be wise child of God and avoid sin to keep your health.

Psalm 107:17 says, “Fools because of their transgression, and BECAUSE OF THEIR INIQUITIES, ARE AFFLICTED”.Sin brings affliction. That’s one root causes of disease. This is why the believer must have nothing to do with sin. As a Christian, you must be wise to know that SIN IS SIN NO MATTER HOW PEOPLE WILL RATE IT.

Let God’s word dominate your mind and heart, so that you will live and say like the Psalmist, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11). Live by the word of God and have nothing to do with the deeds of darkness that brings sickness and disease. 

Read: Romans 6:23 “FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”

Prayer: Lord, I pray for grace to love righteousness and hate sin. I declare that sin shall not have dominion over my life, and I will live in health to God’s glory. Amen

Sin is nothing to play with as a Christian. In fact, the coming of Christ was to destroy the power of sin and its consequences on man. Matthew 1:21 says “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins”. Thus, to subscribe to sin or to keep living in so after this great deliverance is not a wise thing to do.

Every Christian has been empowered to live above sin. But this legal and vital provision can only be enhanced when the Christian remains dedicated to the things of God. The believer who loves the Lord and lives his life in obedience to the word lives above the power of sin always. 

It is important to know that the world is under the sway of the devil, and sin will be present in this world until the end has come (1 John 5:19). So, the fact that you are born again does not take away the influence or the deception of sin away from the world. Sin will still be a force in this world so long as the devil remains. Until the end of all things has come, and the devil is casted into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10), we all have a part to play to keep ourselves from the influence of sin. 

As a Christian living in sin after being born again will never serve your interest. Because yielding to sin will ruin your life. It will gradually make you hardened and unreceptive to the things of God. Hebrews 3:13 says that “But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; LEST ANY OF YOU BE HARDENED THROUGH THE DECEITFULNESS OF SIN”. Never give yourself to any sin, no matter how people may be little it. Sin is sin, keep it this short and see it as nothing to engage it. The Bible says the wages of sin is death. Thus, given sin power again over your life will in no time cause you to backslide and turn away from the truth.

Be a Christian who knows what he or she is about. Stay true to the Lord, live the word, hang around Christians with a solid or reputable character, pray always, quickly repent when you sin and never make sin rule over you.

Read: Proverbs 11:3 “The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.”

Prayer: Lord, thank you that sin shall not have dominion over me. I pray against any influence of evil that wants to come near my dwelling. Amen

No one is an island. Everyone needs someone in life and that’s why you must be an encourager to someone. The Bible says “The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary…”

As a believer you have an obligation towards everyone in the body of Christ. For those, who are strong and are at an advantageous position, God wants you to use it to the benefit of the weaker ones and not to destroy them. 

In Isaiah 41:6, the bible says, “They helped everyone his neighbour; and everyone said to his brother, Be of good courage”. There is no need to tear people down in life because you are stronger than them or have a position of power.

Life has seasons and times. Times of happiness and sorrow, times of plentiful and moments of lack. These seasons affect everyone alike, but just at different times. If you find yourself in a good place today, don’t use it as an occasion to trample on others. On the contrary, capitalize on such blessed times to encourage someone who may be down in life.

This was similar to the instruction Jesus gave Apostle Peter, after praying for him in his (Peter’s) moments of trouble. “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren”. (Luke 22:32)

Beloved, always find an opportunity to encourage someone around you, because in these perilous times, the best you can sometimes do is to say some good words of encouragement to someone. Don’t be self-centred in life. Look also unto the things of others as well. Be an encourager today! Tell someone, “IT SHALL BE WELL”. Isaiah 3:10 reads “Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings”

Read: Proverbs 27:17, “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”

Prayer: Lord, I pray that I will be a source of encouragement to everyone I come into contact with, in the name of Jesus. Amen!

The words from your lips must not be taken for granted. It can fill your life with goodness or otherwise. The bible says our lips bring “harvest” or “results” into our lives. Thus, as a Christian you must be selective in your choice of words and never underestimate what words can do. Know that the words you release from your lips has the power to either create or destroy things in your life. This is why you need great wisdom before you talk. 

In Hebrews 13:5-6 the Bible says “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: FOR HE HATH SAID, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. SO THAT WE MAY BOLDLY SAY, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me”. Thus, for you to talk life, you must speak GOD’S WORD to yourself and into all your endeavours. The Bible says “He (God) has said, so that we may boldly say…”

Jesus said that His words are “spirit and life” (John 6:63). So, for you to speak life- peace, prosperity, increase, health, wealth, etc., you must study the word, mediate on it, and let it be on your lips daily. 

Beloved, if you want to see progress in life, you must learn to talk well. Master your tongue to only confess good things. Take advantage of this great avenue God has given for blessing your life.

Never allow the negative happenings around you make you say the wrong things. In every situation, have God’s word on your lips. Don’t talk defeat, don’t talk diseases, and don’t talk poverty. Confess what God has done for you in Christ. Confess victory, healing, and prosperity. Never sink your destiny by talking death instead of life

Read: Job 22:29, “When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, there is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.”

Prayer: Father, I pray that as I utter spirit and life filed words with my lips, my life will be transformed for your glory.

God’s word has made it clear that the child of God is blessed by the Lord. Nonetheless, God has various degrees of blessing he bestows on us. Although to begin with, Christians are blessed with the Holy Spirit and other endowments from salvation. Ones’ growth experience and depths of commitment to the Lord determines other blessings that the person can enjoy. 

We established from our first part of this series that, obedience to the Lord is a great determinant for some blessings. 

Another way by which you can distinguished yourself from all others when it comes to being blessed incredibly is when you can sacrifice for the things of God. 

In Philippians 3:7-8, the Apostle Paul recounts the sacrifice made for the course of Christ, “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ”. 

This price didn’t go unrewarded. He was blessed with such wisdom and insight that many in his days didn’t have. God preserved his life in many trials beyond human imagination. He survived the sting of a venom viper (Acts 28:1-6), he survived many dangers (2 Corinthians 11:26), and he was set apart for greater works (Acts 19:11).

We can cite many people from the bible who through sacrifice, became better positioned for uncommon blessings. The likes of the disciples of Jesus, Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household steward, Susanna, Cornelius, the roman centurion, etc. Some of these people gave their time, money, life, wealth, homes, and things that were dear to their heart for the cause of the Lord. This distinguished them for exploits because of the blessings of the lord that they attracted. 

Never hesitate when you have the opportunity to sacrifice for the cause of God. It is an opportunity for a blessing.

Read: Psalm 20:3-4 “ May he remember all your sacrifices… May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed”

Prayer: Lord, open my eyes to see opportunities to sacrifice for the sake of your kingdom.

In as much as the Christian is blessed, to continue enjoying this blessing, you must abide in Christ. That’s the only way to be assured of any blessing from the Lord. But just as we have seen from our previous lessons, blessings are in various levels. A person’s level of commitment and attitude towards God, makes him or her a candidate for some levels of blessings. 

We have seen from the scriptures how by obedience and sacrifice people got blessed by the Lord in some uncommon ways. 

This last teaching of the series will focus on getting blessed by godly association or living a godly life. The Bible says: “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”  (Psalm 1:1) 

Psalm tells that by not walking in ungodly counsels, avoiding the “way of the sinners” and the “seat of the scornful you position yourself to access blessings. This is to tell you that, sometimes people don’t just get blessed. Some blessings come by a certain level of consecration to the Lord. As a Christian, when you live in sin, you short circuit your access to some awesome provisions of God.

Proverbs 10: 6 which is our key verse says, BLESSINGS crown the head of the righteous. Make it your lifestyle not to associate with people or anything that will mar your consecration(holiness) before the Lord. Remember that godly association connects you to divine blessings. 

Be wise! Choose your association or alliances thoughtfully. Never make the mistake giving your life for people to wrongly influence you.

Read: Psalms 1:1-3 Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked [following their advice and example], Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit [down to rest] in the seat of scoffers(ridiculers).

Prayer: Lord, I pray for grace and wisdom to be guided with my associations in life.

The life of the believer is a life full of blessing. Some blessing comes by virtue of our association with Christ at salvation, and others because of our obedience to God’s word on specific matters, and some too because of the depth of our service towards His kingdom. 

Our opening verse was an instruction God gave the Israelites when they were about to enter into the blessed land, Canaan. But despite the fact that they were going into a blessed place, God admonished them again to do somethings to continually get some more blessing. He asked them to obey his word, and instructions so that they can be assured of longevity and prosperity. 

This insight reveals that, some blessings are not automatic. Thus, until you do somethings or live in a certain way in your dealings with God, you can’t get some blessings. As a Christian, how you live determines whether you can get some blessings or not. Don’t blame everything on the devil, because sometimes, you are the determinant of most things in your life. 

Know that, in securing the favour of God to be blessed greatly in your life as a Christian, you must make obedience your hallmark. Although, many downplay of this simple attribute, it is the key to walking in greater dimensions of blessings. In his hymn, Trust and Obey, John H. Sammis (1887) wrote “when we walk with the Lord in obedience to his word, He sheds glory on our way”. If you are obedient to the core, you can access some blessings easily. 

You see, many people easily drift off the path of obedience, when they get some blessings trickling in. They are overtaken by complacency and soon get familiar with everything they began with. Thus, instead of intensifying their attitude of obedience, they become casual and loss it all in the end. 

As you journey today, reflect on the blessings of God you have enjoyed over the years. Are you increasing in these blessing again or you are stuck? Have you grown in your level of obedience to the Lord? Do you obey promptly? Be wise and do things that will bring God’s blessings.

Read: Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord ; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Prayer: Father, I pray for grace to keep your blessings in my life. Also help me not to become familiar with the truth.

Most things in life demand the element of urgency. This fact notwithstanding, as a Christian, there are times God expects you to exercise patience before you will see some manifestation of some promises. Undermining this wisdom of waiting on the Lord, can wreck your life. Because you will think you are “getting behind time” and you will end up with hasty decisions that will mar a lot of things. 

One truth to know as a Christian is that sometimes YOU MUST WAIT on the Lord for somethings to be settled in your life. It can be career, marriage, finances, health, childbearing, ministry, etc. This waiting period tests your faith and finally makes you further convinced in the Lord and in your faith. The bible says,”But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31). 

Your waiting period doesn’t mean you must do nothing, on the contrary, waiting demands that you engage in a lot of spiritual activities. This is the moment to heighten your commitment to the Lord, serving him faithfully, promptly obeying his word, fasting intermittently, praying, and meditating on God’s word. 

Therefore, waiting on the Lord is activity based. Don’t lazy about and say you are waiting on the Lord. You see, just as in the natural when a farmer, puts a seed in the ground, and in waiting for it to germinate he applies manure, water the soil, and gives adequate sunlight to the seed sown, the same principle applies to the spiritual waiting. Engage more in spiritual activities in your waiting moments. This is where you can get a specific word, direction, or an empowerment to get something done or receive something. 

Don’t give up whiles you are in your waiting period. Stay strong, for it will end in praise.

Read: Isaiah 64:4 “For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.”

Prayer: Father, I declare that as I wait on you, I will see your glory. Amen

Your faith in the Lord is worth keeping and fighting for. As a Christian you must go all out to make sure that you remain in the faith till the end. That’s how you can be assured of eternity with the Lord. Matthew 24:13 admonishes that “he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved”. In Hebrews 10:38, the bible says “Now the just shall live by faith: BUT IF ANY MAN DRAW BACK, MY SOUL SHALL HAVE NO PLEASURE IN HIM. These portions of scripture reveal that, as Christians we must stay true to the Lord to the end. 

You see, it is clear from the scriptures that, we live in terrible times and times of great uncertainty. 2 Timothy 3:1 says, “But understand this, that in the last days dangerous times [of great stress and trouble] will come [difficult days that will be hard to bear]”. It is for this purpose that, you must rise as a Christian and fight your way through. You must fight to preserve the faith for what it truly means and stands for. You must know the TRUTH and uphold it in all your endeavours. Anything short of this, can topple your faith in the Lord and cause you to miss heaven and meet hell.

The Apostle Paul unveiled this truth to his Protégé Timothy, when he admonished him to “fight the good fight of faith and to lay hold on eternal life” (1Timothy 6:12). You see, despite the surge in false teachings and viewpoints that demean the “essence of Christianity and godly values”, you must STAY STRONG IN YOUR CONVIVTIONS to live right. Never comprise the values and virtues that the Christian faith demands. Although you may be odd in your stand because of the times we are living in. Become God’s man that can retain the unadulterated word of God and hand it over to the next generation. 

Beloved, be encouraged to carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you. The truth that Jesus is the savior of humanity, the truth that Jesus died for the salvation of the world, the truth that Jesus resurrected, ascended, and will come again to judge the world (2 Timothy 4:1, Acts 1:11). Yes, hold on to the truth that, anyone who has this HOPE in the Lord must keep himself holy, just as Christ is holy (1 John 3:3).

Be wise, contend for the faith. It is all about making impact for the Lord and ending up with him in eternity. Never fall off Child of God.

Read: Jude 1:3-4 “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Prayer: Father, I pray for the grace to stay true to the faith in this end times to the end. Amen